In this photo taken on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to employees of Uralvagonzavod factory in Nizhny Tagil, Russia . President Vladimir Putin has sought to reach out to voters across Russia. Putin has appealed to various social groups and traveled to many of the country’s far-flung regions, promising to bolster the economy, raise living standards and combat poverty. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin, center top, steps out of a plane shortly upon his arrival to Yekaterinburg, Russia's fourth-largest city which is a key industrial hub. As he runs for re-election in the March 18 vote, President Vladimir Putin has sought to reach out to voters across Russia. Putin has appealed to various social groups and traveled to many of the country’s far-flung regions, promising to bolster the economy, raise living standards and combat poverty. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, walks surrounded by aides and bodyguards upon his arrival to Yekaterinburg, Russia's fourth-largest city which is a key industrial hub. President Vladimir Putin has sought to reach out to voters across Russia. Putin has appealed to various social groups and traveled to many of the country’s far-flung regions, promising to bolster the economy, raise living standards and combat poverty. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, heads to a helicopter to fly to Nizhny Tagil shortly after arriving in Yekaterinburg, Russia's fourth-largest city which is a key industrial hub. President Vladimir Putin has sought to reach out to voters across Russia. Putin has appealed to various social groups and traveled to many of the country’s far-flung regions, promising to bolster the economy, raise living standards and combat poverty. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, A helicopter escorting another one that carries Russian President Vladimir Putin flies over an area on its way from Yekaterinburg to Nizhny Tagil, Russia . President Vladimir Putin has sought to reach out to voters across Russia. Putin has appealed to various social groups and traveled to many of the country’s far-flung regions, promising to bolster the economy, raise living standards and combat poverty.AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, leaves Russian helicopter after landing to visit Uralvagonzavod factory in Nizhny Tagil, Russia . President Vladimir Putin has sought to reach out to voters across Russia. Putin has appealed to various social groups and traveled to many of the country’s far-flung regions, promising to bolster the economy, raise living standards and combat poverty. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, listens to Uralvagonzavod Scientific and Industrial Corporation General Director Alexander Potapov, right, visiting Uralvagonzavod factory as Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov, left, stands behind him in Nizhny Tagil, Russia . President Vladimir Putin has sought to reach out to voters across Russia. Putin has appealed to various social groups and traveled to many of the country’s far-flung regions, promising to bolster the economy, raise living standards and combat poverty. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures while speaking with employees of the Uralvagonzavod factory in Nizhny Tagil, Russia . President Vladimir Putin has sought to reach out to voters across Russia. Putin has appealed to various social groups and traveled to many of the country’s far-flung regions, promising to bolster the economy, raise living standards and combat poverty. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, listens to Uralvagonzavod Scientific and Industrial Corporation General Director Alexander Potapov, right of him, as he walks at a new railway car during his trip to Nizhny Tagil, Russia . President Vladimir Putin has sought to reach out to voters across Russia. Putin has appealed to various social groups and traveled to many of the country’s far-flung regions, promising to bolster the economy, raise living standards and combat poverty. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin listens for a worker's question during a forum on young workers at the Uralvagonzavod factory in Nizhny Tagil, Russia Uralvagonzavod factory in Nizhny Tagil, Russia . President Vladimir Putin has sought to reach out to voters across Russia. Putin has appealed to various social groups and traveled to many of the country’s far-flung regions, promising to bolster the economy, raise living standards and combat poverty. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, a worker asks a question to Russian President Vladimir Putin during a forum on young workers at the Uralvagonzavod factory in Nizhny Tagil, Russia . Workers asked questions about the future of heavy industries and professional training, and Putin said the government will sponsor efforts to expand opportunities for professional training and learning new skills. President Vladimir Putin has sought to reach out to voters across Russia. Putin has appealed to various social groups and traveled to many of the country’s far-flung regions, promising to bolster the economy, raise living standards and combat poverty. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, A view of the Uralvagonzavod factory from a helicopter escorting another one that carries Russian President Vladimir Putin from Nizhny Tagil to Yekaterinburg, Russia . President Vladimir Putin has sought to reach out to voters across Russia. Putin has appealed to various social groups and traveled to many of the country’s far-flung regions, promising to bolster the economy, raise living standards and combat poverty. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, speaks to his spokesman Dmitry Peskov, right of him, leaving a Russian Mi-38 helicopter after landing in Koltsovo airport outside Yekaterinburg, Russia's fourth-largest city which is a key industrial hub. President Vladimir Putin has sought to reach out to voters across Russia. Putin has appealed to various social groups and traveled to many of the country’s far-flung regions, promising to bolster the economy, raise living standards and combat poverty. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, The motorcade carrying Russian President Vladimir Putin speeds up along a highway from the airport Koltsovo to the center of Yekaterinburg during a sunset, Russia . President Vladimir Putin has sought to reach out to voters across Russia. Putin has appealed to various social groups and traveled to many of the country’s far-flung regions, promising to bolster the economy, raise living standards and combat poverty. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, through a motorcade's car window, local people watch at the motorcade carrying Russian President Vladimir Putin during his trip to Yekaterinburg, Russia . President Vladimir Putin has sought to reach out to voters across Russia. Putin has appealed to various social groups and traveled to many of the country’s far-flung regions, promising to bolster the economy, raise living standards and combat poverty. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives to attend a a meeting with top officials as Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets, left, looks at him during his trip to Yekaterinburg, Russia . President Vladimir Putin has sought to reach out to voters across Russia. Putin has appealed to various social groups and traveled to many of the country’s far-flung regions, promising to bolster the economy, raise living standards and combat poverty.(AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin waves local officials prior to his departure from Yekaterinburg, Russia . Putin on Tuesday took his campaign to one of Russia's leading industrial companies, vowing to bolster high-tech industries and improve living standards. President Vladimir Putin has sought to reach out to voters across Russia. Putin has appealed to various social groups and traveled to many of the country’s far-flung regions, promising to bolster the economy, raise living standards and combat poverty. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin during his trip to Yekateringburg, Russia . After hopping by helicopter back to Yekaterinburg, Russia's fourth-largest city which is a key industrial hub, Putin chaired a meeting with top officials on training industrial personnel. President Vladimir Putin has sought to reach out to voters across Russia. Putin has appealed to various social groups and traveled to many of the country’s far-flung regions, promising to bolster the economy, raise living standards and combat poverty. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

But the Kremlin is worried about voter apathy and looking to boost turnout, so Putin has been out making appearances, seeking to reach voters across the country.

The Associated Press recently followed him on the campaign trail as he traveled to Nizhny Tagil, home to Uralvagonzavod, the world's largest manufacturer of battle tanks, which also makes railway cars.

Putin focused on the need to modernize the country's industries, support innovative technologies and raise skills of its workforce.

"We need people with new knowledge, fresh approaches, people who are ready to meet the new challenges," he told a forum on young workers.

He pointed at his own family history, saying that his father also worked at a plant making railway cars and was proud of his job.

Workers asked about the future of heavy industries and professional training, and Putin said the government will sponsor efforts to expand opportunities for professional training and learning new skills.

After hopping by helicopter back to Yekaterinburg, Russia's fourth-largest city which is a key industrial hub, Putin chaired a meeting with top officials on training industrial personnel.